As a home buyer client in the past who looked at too many houses in person and not from virtual tours or the Internet, I can relate to what I call the "Match Game." Buyer Agents are tasked with inputting Buyer requirements into the MLS and seeing what pops up. You know the drill - Four bedrooms,
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10/23/2007
Talking with first time homebuyers the common question arises, "Is it better to rent, or buy?" I have always been fair with this question while I think REALTORS and financial planners alike are heavily on the side that buying is better. There is no question there are many advantages to home owner
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10/23/2007
In previewing and showing homes with buyers I must admit the REALTOR community as a whole is doing a good job with their sellers in preparing the home's curb appeal. To me, curb appeal is two things, how the home looks from the street and what is the impression when you come up to the door. From
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10/23/2007
I was chatting with several buds at the local watering hole. Lately I have become the group expert in the real estate field. They asked if paying money to have a home inspection was really necessary? My mouth dropped. I commented, "Are you kidding?"Several it turns out had bought homes just fine
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10/22/2007
Prior to getting into the real estate field I collected and read the many business cards that were handed to me. They were from from REALTORs, lenders, title officers, etc. Similar to financial planners and insurance folk I noted that some REALTORs had all these funny little letters following the
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10/22/2007
Are real estate agents now giving used car salemen a run for their money? To the public SOME real estate agents have been using gimmicks in recent years to get their business. No wonder for some there is a negative stigma not only towards salesmen (and women) in general industry but also towards
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10/22/2007
In attempting to be the best and most professional REALTOR for my clients, another top trait struck me and that is the characteristic of being a calm person. Depending on whether this comes natural to us or not, I think clients would like a calm person to represent them with their agency. I think
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10/21/2007
One of the traits I've always admired about Abraham Lincoln was he was one who could spin a good story. Likewise, I think REALTORS have some of the best stories around. From being in the trenches with many in their industry as well as the buyers, sellers, and investors, I think sometimes they cou
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10/20/2007
A quote attributed perhaps to Mark Twain or Benjamin Disraeli goes, "There are three types of lies - lies, damn lies, and statistics." I contend that this curse regarding the ability to manipulate statistics to come up with any number to prove anything also applies to the field of real estate.Mos
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10/20/2007
I always get my best insight into what's going on from real people. Books, blogs, and training classes supplement my learning but nothing tells you what's really going on like asking people questions.Case in point. I knock on doors around houses that are listed or even FSBOs and ask the neighbors
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10/19/2007
